Method of manufacturing a solar cell panel

Abstract

The photovoltaic cells (6) are retained and protected by a transparent elastomer layer (12) extruded when hot prior to vulcanization and applied against the cells with a slight pressure to cause it to go into the spaces between cells, and vulcanized by heating, for example at 110° C. or at 180° C., thanks to the presence of incorporated peroxides. Application in the production of electricity from solar energy.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of manufacturing a panel of photovoltaic solar cells, said method comprising the following steps: disposing photovoltaic cells on a lower support plate and establishing electrical connections for these cells;   disposing on the cells an upper transparent encapsulation layer to retain and protect these cells;   the improvement comprising: disposing the encapsulation layer in the form of a soft layer of un-vulcanized elastomer;   lightly applying on said un-vulcanized elastomer layer, a local progressive pressure to press it against the cells and the support plate to cause it to flow into the spaces between the cells; and   vulcanizing this layer.     
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said layer of elastomer is pressed against the cells with the aid of a pressure roller. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the encapsulation elastomer is a silicone elastomer. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the encapsulation elastomer is a methylpolysiloxane of high molecular weight modified to allow polymerization when hot under the effect of an incorporated peroxide.